The first phase of the 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, kicked off in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday. The first five-day fair focuses on advanced manufacturing with five categories, including electronics and appliances, manufacturing, vehicles and two-wheelers, lighting and electrical, and hardware.

More than 12,000 exhibitors with over 25,000 booths displayed their products and technologies at the 520,000-square-meter exhibition area, such as new energy, intelligent manufacturing, embodied AI, service robots, drones, and display technology.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Canton Fair. Thirteen categories with 54 exhibition sections will be presented across the three phases of the fair from Oct 15 to Nov 4.